HVAC contractors are professional technicians working with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (abbreviated HVAC) hardware. You would call on this type of professional service technician to assist you with heating, cooling, airflow, and air quality in your home or business. You might start searching for HVAC contractors in Sonoma County if you require a repair for a broken down air conditioning unit, or if you needed assistance with duct cleaning.
What to Expect When Hiring HVAC Contractors
In general, an air conditioning contractor will have training in all three HVAC areas: heating, air conditioning, and ventilation. However, sometimes, an HVAC contractor may choose to narrow their focus, so their businesses will service clients mainly in only one of these three categories. For instance, you might find in your research that some HVAC companies specialize particularly in heating, while others are known for helping homeowners improve air ventilation in their houses.
Similarly, a heating and cooling contractor might prioritize the services they provide a little differently. On a macro level, HVAC contractors should be able to help you with three core areas: installation, maintenance, and repair. If you are replacing the furnace in your home, you would call a heating contractor to help you disconnect the old one and install the new one. Your HVAC contractor can also handle routine maintenance and upkeep tasks or repairs on damaged or broken-down equipment.
Within these three categories, HVAC contractors will also usually consult or assist on several other matters. Suppose you are looking for ways to cut down on your heating and cooling bills. In that case, your service provider will probably be able to give a few pointers, such as replacing drafty windows and doors or improving insulation around your air ducts. HVAC contractors can also usually provide duct cleaning services to help you maintain a high level of air quality within your home.
Finally, some HVAC contractors will specialize in specific or niche-based types of equipment. For instance, boilers and other water-based heating systems are entirely different beasts than gas or electric-powered services. Not all HVAC contractors offer to service this type of heating system. Similarly, solar-based home heating systems are a niche that you will likely need to seek a specialized HVAC professional to service.
What Does an HVAC Contractor Actually Do?
The specific duties that an HVAC contractor will perform depend largely on the project at hand. Inspection and maintenance services, for instance, focus on things like checking pipe and tube joints and connections for leaks, testing thermostat systems, checking fans, changing filters, refilling refrigerant levels, testing electrical circuits, testing different components for faults, and cleaning air ducts. Repair work, meanwhile, can involve replacing specific parts or fittings to get the heating or cooling unit back into working order. Installation processes involve hooking new units up to ductwork, pipes, tubes, and distribution systems, testing those connections to ensure reliability, and getting the new systems up and running.
As you can see, an HVAC contractors’ job is quite complicated and can vary significantly from one job to the next. Every repair is different, and every maintenance call requires different steps and processes depending on the system’s condition. Installations can be more similar from one job to the next but can still vary with different brands or models of equipment.
Luckily, experienced HVAC contractors will have the skills and training necessary to assess what needs to be done on the fly and perform the steps required for each job. Ideally, the result will be crisp air conditioning, comfortable and consistent heating, effective ventilation, and fresh, healthy air quality.
When to Call HVAC Contractors in Sonoma County
If you’re installing a new furnace or dealing with an air conditioning unit that isn’t working properly anymore, it goes without saying that you should call HVAC contractors for help. Signs that your unit might require a repair or replacement include inconsistent temperatures throughout the house, weird noises issuing from the unit, and inexplicable increases in your monthly heating and cooling bills. If the air in your home smells stale, or if the environment feels stuffy, those are issues that warrant a call to the local HVAC company as well.
Even if your units seem to be in good working order, most experts recommend having your HVAC system inspected and serviced at least once a year. Twice-annual maintenance calls will likely yield even better results. In any case, make sure you are calling HVAC contractors in Sonoma County annually. Regular maintenance will provide better heating, cooling, and ventilation and extend the lifespan of your equipment. Contact a proven service provider today to ensure your HVAC equipment is in good shape today and tomorrow.